By James Simons-
Two men have appeared in court accused of preparing a homemade bomb for a terrorist attack in the UK.
31-year-old Andy Star, a fish and chips owner in Chesterfield, and 22-year-old Farhad Salah were arrested after counter-terrorism police officers raided their homes in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire on 19 December.
The two men who are Kurdish Iraqis, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Courts, charged with one count of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism.
The pair appeared at the hearing via a video link from Leeds magistrates court.
Both men are accused of possessing “low explosive black powder”. The pair were among four men arrested on 19 December.
A 36-year-old man from Burngreave in Sheffield remained in custody, while a 41-year-old from Meersbrook in Sheffield was released on Saturday, according to South Yorkshire Police.
Star, who owns the Mermaid Fish and Chip Bar in Chesterfield, and Salah, who lives in Sheffield, were remanded in custody by District Judge Tan Ikram before a hearing at the Old Bailey on 19 January. Star denies the charges, but the CPS believes they have enough evidence to secure a conviction.